World Cup 2022

[mrblackbat]

So, on the face of it, a pretty kind group draw for England, with the added bonus of a possible rival.

Group H possibly the most competitive,?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60869303

[Ethiaa]

I'm not sure there are any other faces to it. It should be a walk through. There really can't be any excuses for that being in any way difficult for England. It's pretty hard to imagine who you'd have picked instead.

[mrblackbat]

True.

We'll still somehow bodge it and scrape through in second....

[Ethiaa]

Oh absolutely - England can play down to any opposition level. Amazing flexibility in that regard.

[mcteeth]

A very un-England start with a game we'd classically huff and puff and draw 0-0. Although the goals conceded were sloppy even if the pen was far less of a pen than the one on Maguire in the first half.

Formation looked good, lots of players in form and goals shared around. Thought USA looked decent though, their speed will cause our defence some issues I think.

Oh and Bellingham

[Ethiaa]

I really really want Germany to get through now.

[mcteeth]

Senegal up next.

Hard to judge things as we've been okay and beaten 2 very poor sides and struggled a bit offensively against an organised USA.

[mrblackbat]

Though we were also never really threatened by the USA.

As you say, difficult to call it.

[mcteeth]

Yeah I've got a few American friends who really pleased but also a little disappointed they didn't go for the win as we were there to be beaten given how we played.

If we beat Senegal then we're more than likely playing France so that will probably be that

[mrblackbat]

Yeah I agree.

Though, at least we did better than Belgium. And Germany.

[Dan]

Spain manager Luis Enrique after losing to Japan:

"Luckily, the team only goes into collapse mode once every four years, otherwise I wouldn't be able to cope."

Lets hope he never takes over at Ewood

[mcteeth]

This World Cup has really taken off across the last week, the final group games have been totally bonkers!

Last night was amazing.

[mrblackbat]

Always enjoy watching Uruguay go out. Horrible team....

[mrblackbat]

Very comfortable. Bring on the French!

[mcteeth]

We were still a bit ropey for the first of the game, the 2 good chances Senegal created I'd fully expect France to score.

Also having to eat my words about Henderson for England, he's been excellent.

The key is really to speed of decisions and technical execution of players like Foden, Bellingham and Saka. Foden makes that first goal with the flick that I just don't thing stodgy England of old would do, and Bellingham committing himself forward.

Senegal seemed to just give up when Kane scored.

Tough test against France.